Sports News

Despite first-game jitters that stayed with the Burros into the second half, Hillsboro won its first game of the 2007-2008 girls basketball season, defeating Central Cass, 56-42, Tuesday night in the Events Center.

The Evenson twins — Joelle and Maggie — each scored 15 points in the non-conference victory.

“It wasn’t pretty, but I was happy with the effort,” said the Burro coach Kyle Morehart.

Trailing 38-36 after three quarters, the Burros ran away with the game in the final quarter, out-scoring the Squirrels, 20-4, in the final 8  minutes of play.

“It took us two and a half quarters to get going,” added Morehart. “I felt much better in the fourth quarter, we finally opened things up in the open court.”

Morehart indicated the third quarter turnaround was elementary: “The girls responded to what I wanted.”

The Burro girls will be tested again tonight at Fargo Oak Grove. In a rash of games, Hillsboro plays again Monday at Climax and Tuesday at Cooperstown. Their next home game is Friday (Dec. 7) against Thompson.

“It’s one heck of a stretch,” Morehart admitted.

The Burros, already hurting for numbers by dressing only eight players against Central Cass, will be without forward Mikkaela Toenies tonight and possibly longer. The 5-7 freshman hurt her lower back in the junior varsity game Tuesday.

Playing in place of Toenies were Becca Heinitz and Rachel Meyer, who did a “great job filling in,” according to their coach.

The play of the two younger players was key to the 14-point victory, said Morehart.

Casselton Central Cass, meanwhile, is playing without three contributing athletes, out for disciplinary reasons.

With the win over the depleted Squirrel lineup, Morehart, while pleased with his team’s second half defensive adjustments, knows the Burros can’t afford to let down.

“We have a long way to go. Conditioning will make or break us.”

Morehart saw his team wear down the Squirrels Tuesday night at the Events Center.

“If we have our legs, we will be able to knock down shots in the fourth quarter.”

The Burros showed signs of being a good ball club in the second half against Casselton, Morehart tells.

“I expect we’ll get better as we play more games. We’ll take what we learned last night and build on it.”

Hillsboro didn’t score until nearly midway through the first quarter, which ended in a 8-8 tie.

The Squirrels held a 25-22 lead at halftime.

The Burros, who outscored Central Cass 14-13 in the third quarter, owned the final 8 minutes.

In the decisive fourth quarter, Brittany Wilson scored 7 points on two field goals and three free throws. Maggie Evenson added six points.

Katrina Meyer nailed three 3-pt. shots for 9 points. Wilson also had 9 points in the game.

Junior center Ashley Doeden followed with 6 points.

Ashleigh Nesemeier had 14 points for Central Cass. Taylor Kraft contributed 12 points.